Autism

Lord Touhig: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish details of the content and timings of the review of the adult autism strategy.

Earl Howe: The review is an opportunity for Ministers across Government to assess whether the objectives of the autism strategy remain fundamentally the right ones, to take a comprehensive look at how far they are being achieved, and to consider what should happen to continue to make progress.
	The Autism Programme Board, which brings together representatives from across government, the public and voluntary sectors and people with autism and family carers, agreed the overall approach to the review at its meeting on 24 April. We are starting the investigative stage of the review and this will last until the end of October. We will then revise the strategy as necessary by March 2014. Key partners such as the National Autistic Society, Autism Alliance UK and the Hidden Impairment National Group will be assisting in this process and they are currently finalising their plans.

BBC: News

Lord Ashcroft: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made representations to the BBC regarding the neutrality of its news coverage.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: There have been no representations or recent discussions with the BBC concerning the neutrality of its news output.
	The BBC is required to deliver duly impartial news by the Royal Charter and Agreement, and the BBC Trust is committed to making sure that the BBC fulfils this obligation. One of the ways the trust does this is through a rolling programme of impartiality reviews looking at different aspects of the BBC's output. The trust is currently carrying out an impartiality review, looking at the BBC's breadth of opinion, which is set to be published in July.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assistance they are providing to the United Nations intervention brigade in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Baroness Warsi: The new mandate for the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), of which the Intervention Brigade is a part, was agreed by the UN Security Council, through Resolution 2098, on 28 March. We are fully supportive of MONUSCO's mission.
	The UK currently provides a small number of blue-hatted British military personnel, including the Deputy Force Commander (currently Acting Force Commander), and some specialists, to MONUSCO headquarters.

Disabled People: Mortality Rates

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the Confidential Inquiry into premature deaths of people with learning disabilities, and in particular to the report's recommendation that there should be a body responsible for the continued collection, analysis and investigation of mortality data for people with a learning disability.

Earl Howe: The department is working with NHS England and Public Health England to respond to the findings of the confidential inquiry, which we expect to publish shortly. The response will cover each recommendation, including the proposal for a national learning disability mortality review body. It will complement NHS England's work focusing on improving outcomes, including preventing people from dying prematurely and improving the quality of life for people with long-term conditions.
	The findings from the confidential inquiry will also inform work going on to address the issues identified at Winterbourne View hospital and Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.

EU: Court of Justice

Lord Bowness: To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the request for additional Advocates-General from the President of the Court of Justice of the European Union, when they expect to seek the approval of Parliament under the European Union Act 2011 for the appointment of additional Advocates-General.

Baroness Warsi: An increase in the number of Advocates-General at the Court of Justice of the EU requires both parliamentary scrutiny and resolution in both Houses of Parliament. The Government are aware of the desire to make these appointments as soon as practical and will arrange debates in both Houses when parliamentary time allows.

First World War: Commemoration

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to involve the Church of England and other churches and faith communities in their plans to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The Very Reverend June Osborne, Dean of Salisbury, is a member of the Government's Advisory Group, which advises the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the First World War Centenary Commemoration Programme. In addition, the Government are in touch with other churches and faith communities to encourage their participation in our plans for a diverse and inclusive programme of commemorations.

First World War: Commemoration

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to including representatives of the Government of Germany in their plans to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The Government have had several meetings, at both ministerial and official level, with a number of overseas Governments, including the Federal Republic of Germany. We are keen to involve Germany in our plans, in an appropriate way. We will continue to work with the German Government as our plans develop.

Flooding

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord De Mauley on 22 April (WA 372), whether it is their intention that any works recommended at the meeting of the Wessex Regional Flood and Coastal Committee on 22 April will be completed in time for the winter of 2013-14.

Lord De Mauley: At its meeting on 22 April the Wessex Regional Flood and Coastal Committee agreed to initiate a partnership fund to support dredging of parts of the Rivers Parrett and Tone in Somerset. The committee allocated local levy funding of £300,000 towards the total cost of the proposed works, subject to other partners contributing the remaining balance. The undertaking and timing of any works will be dependent on the necessary contributions coming forward and the committee is keen to work with partners to progress the work.

Food: Advertising

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they will take to protect children against online marketing by food companies using internet games and advertising strategies banned from children's television.

Earl Howe: In March 2011 the Committee on Advertising Practice's code, which contains controls on the way foods can be advertised to children, was extended to digital media. The Advertising Standards Authority is currently reviewing the success of this extension.
	In addition, promotion of food is in the forward work programme of the Responsibility Deal Food Network and will involve exploring and developing actions that might be taken by the food industry, and others, to ensure that there is a balance in the types of food that are marketed and promoted to all consumers.

Gaza

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of children killed in Gaza in 2012.

Baroness Warsi: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not made its own estimation of the number of children killed in Gaza during 2012, but data from the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs suggest that 57 Palestinian children were killed in Gaza in 2012, 43 of them by Israeli security forces.

Government Departments: Fax Machines

Lord Knight of Weymouth: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many fax machines with dedicated phone lines are in use at the Department of Health; and what is the total cost of fax machine line rentals, maintenance, replacement and consumables to the department.

Earl Howe: The department does not have dedicated phone lines for fax machines. The department currently has seven standalone fax machines that use switchboard voice lines and are charged as part of the overall departmental voice charge.
	The department does not pay any maintenance, rental costs or replacement costs for standalone fax machines. Consumables are purchased locally from contracted stationery providers.
	The department introduced multifunctional devices (MFDs) into the workplace in 2007 and these devices have a faxing capability. All staff now have access to high capacity black and white and colour printers as well as scan to e-mail or file, copy and fax services. The introduction of MFDs reduced costs in printer support and savings in administrative budgets in the region of £200,000 per annum.
	As the department uses a single centrally managed print service it has not been possible to separate out costs relating to maintenance, replacement and consumables for MFD fax capabilities.

Health: Adult Social Care

Lord Warner: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the size of the financial transfers (in constant prices) that NHS England plans to make from its budget to fund adult social care in financial years 2013-14 and 2014-15.

Earl Howe: In the 2010 Spending Review, we committed to provide local authorities with £759 million in 2013-14 and £700 million in 2014-15 from the National Health Service for social care that has a health benefit.
	In the White Paper Caring for our Future: Reforming Care and Support, we announced a further £100 million in 2013-14 and £200 million in 2014-15.
	This means the transfer will amount to £859 million in 2013-14, and £900 million in 2014-15 (just over £883 million in 2013-14 prices).
	This funding presents a real opportunity for integrated working between health and social care, allowing investment in re-ablement and in improving the interface between hospitals and care services.
	Enabling local areas to transform their services and to deliver better integrated care that saves money across the two systems will improve care for people and optimise the use of resources.

Health: Cardiology

Lord Colwyn: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occurred in (1) England, (2) Wales, and (3) Scotland, in the last year for which figures are available; what were the survival rates in each region; and how those survival rates compared with those in other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries.

Earl Howe: This information is not collected centrally for England. Information on out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Wales and Scotland should be requested from the devolved Administrations.
	In the Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes Strategy, published in March 2013, an estimate was made that about 50,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests occur each year in England. The overall average rate of survival to hospital discharge was estimated to be 7%. This figure reflects the fact that resuscitation is not always possible following a cardiac arrest.

Health: Cardiology

Lord Colwyn: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they provide incentives to provide public access defibrillators and defibrillator training.

Earl Howe: The department does not provide incentives to provide public access defibrillators or defibrillator training.
	Ambulance trusts have had responsibility for sustaining the legacy of the National Defibrillator Programme since February 2007.

Health: Defibrillators

Lord Colwyn: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consider imposing a statutory duty to include public access defibrillators in building regulations for new public buildings.

Baroness Hanham: The statutory powers in the Building Act 1984 to impose building regulations in relation to public safety only allow for providing protection from risks arising from, or connected with, the building itself.
	Notwithstanding that, on the broader issue of defibrillators in public buildings, I refer the noble Lord to the recent answer of 16 April 2013 (Official Report, Commons, col. 332W).

Healthcare: Costs

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 10 April (WA 302-4), whether they will revalue the average pensioner healthcare cost charged by the United Kingdom to European Union states for EU citizens resident in the United Kingdom; when that figure was last updated; and what are the equivalent figures used by (1) Spain, and (2) the Republic of Ireland, when charging the United Kingdom.

Earl Howe: European Union regulations require member states to re-examine their average costs every year. The United Kingdom's last published average costs were for 2010 and that represented an increase on the previous year. Following a change in May 2010, the EU now requires states to produce draft average costs by 31 December of the second year after the year in question (e.g. 2011 costs by 31 December 2013).
	Some countries are still some way behind this requirement, for example Ireland. The latest average costs for pensioners that have been approved and published are:
	Ireland €7,483.51 (for 2005) and Spain €3,955.05 (for 2011). Ireland is expected to produce average costs up to and including 2011 by 31 December 2013.

Healthcare: Costs

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 10 April (WA 302-4), how the £196,692,000 paid to France for actual pensioner healthcare costs in 2011 of United Kingdom pensioners resident there was made up; and whether those costs were composed of accumulated individual amounts by pensioner.

Earl Howe: Since 1 May 2010, pensioner healthcare claims against the United Kingdom from France have been based on the actual healthcare costs incurred. Before that date average costs were used. Actual healthcare costs are composed of accumulated individual amounts by pensioner.

Healthcare: Costs

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Earl Howe on 10 April (WA 302-4), from which European Economic Area countries the 2,054 state pensioners resident in the United Kingdom for whom the United Kingdom received reimbursement for healthcare last year came; whether they have made any estimate of the number of EEA state pensioners who are resident in the United Kingdom for whom the United Kingdom does not seek or receive reimbursement; and whether they will review the systems used in European Union countries for charging for British pensioners living abroad.

Earl Howe: The following European Economic Area countries have state retirement pensioners resident in the United Kingdom: Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Iceland; Italy; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Malta; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Slovakia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; and the Netherlands.
	No estimate has been made as to the number of state pensioners living in the UK for whom the UK is not claiming reimbursement. Member states are entitled to seek reimbursement for pensioners on an actual cost, or lump sum, basis. It is a matter for each member state to decide which method they use.

HMS "Victory"

Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Astor of Hever on 27 March (WA 246), whether they will disclose the key management principles formulated by the Advisory Group for HMS Victory.

Lord Astor of Hever: The Government intend to publish the key management principles, together with other supporting information, once agreement on the future management of the site of the wreck of HMS "Victory", 1744, has been reached.

Housing: Council Houses

Lord Whitty: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of the 1.84 million households on the council housing waiting list in England have been resident in the United Kingdom for less than (1) two years, and (2) five years.

Baroness Hanham: This information is not collected centrally.
	Notwithstanding that, I would observe that, in 2010-11, one in six existing housing tenants in London were not British or Irish nationals and, across England in 2011-12, almost one in 10 social lettings made to tenants new to social housing were to non-United Kingdom nationals. This is why the Government intend to strengthen the rules on taxpayer-subsidised social housing and give greater priority to local people and members of the Armed Forces.

Immigration

Baroness Hamwee: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the social and economic impact on European Economic Area nationals entering or remaining in the United Kingdom under the family migration rule of (1) the minimum income threshold and other financial requirements, and (2) provisions relating to the needs of adult and elderly dependants, introduced with effect from 9 July 2012 into the Immigration Rules.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The family Immigration Rules relating to non-European Economic Area nationals implemented on 9 July 2012 are intended to prevent burdens on the taxpayer, promote integration and tackle abuse, as reflected in the impact assessment and policy equality statement published on 13 June 2012. The Government will keep the impact of the rules in achieving these objectives and more generally on family life in the UK, under review in the light of the published immigration statistics and other sources of information available on the operation of the rules.

Israel

Lord Judd: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the number of children prosecuted in military courts in Israel in March 2013, (2) the number of children aged 12 to 15 so prosecuted in that month, (3) the total number of children in detention in that month, and (4) the number of children aged 16 and 17 held in solitary confinement in that month, and for how long.

Baroness Warsi: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not hold the information requested.
	According to the Palestinian human rights organisation Addameer, the number of Palestinian children in Israeli detention was 236 in March 2013, 39 of whom were under the age of 16.

Local Authorities: Assets of Community Value

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many rejected nominations of land for inclusion on each local authority's list of assets of community value in (1) Merseyside, (2) the north-west of England, and (3) England, have been (a) added to, and (b) removed from, each authority's list to date.

Baroness Hanham: As part of our commitment to reduce the burden of inspection on local government, the department does not require local government to report formally on the number of nominations rejected for listing as assets of community value by local authorities. Local authorities are responsible for maintaining their list of assets of community value, which they must make available on request.

Local Authorities: Assets of Community Value

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they have taken (1) to fund, (2) to implement, and (3) to promote, (a) the community right (i) to bid, and (ii) to challenge mechanisms, and (b) each local authorities' list of (i) assets of community value, and (ii) land nominated by unsuccessful community nominations.

Baroness Hanham: In July 2012 DCLG launched a three-year programme worth £30 million to support the implementation of the Community Rights to Bid and Challenge. Over £28 million of this funding is for grants to help communities take practical steps such as developing business plans and pay for specialist support, for example lawyers or architects. This is in addition to support available from the Office for Civil Society and other organisations such as the Big Lottery to social enterprises and to support social action projects.
	Community Right to Bid
	DCLG is providing £19 million to fund the Community Ownership and Management of Assets programme, which supports groups to use the Community Right to Bid and to take over the management of assets. A total of £17.5 million will be given as direct support to communities in the form of grants.
	Community Right to Challenge
	The Right to Challenge Support Programme worth is £11.5 million. A total of £10.5 million will be given in grant funding to help groups through different stages of using the right. The programme includes a free advice and information service, guides and toolkits.
	Promotion of the Community Rights
	Our support contracts include resources for promotional and marketing activity to encourage take up of the community rights, including a web site, toolkits, social media activity and promotional events.
	Assets of community value and land nominated by unsuccessful community nominations
	As part of the Government's policy to shift push power away from central departments to local people and their elected representatives, the department does not formally collect information on the number of nominations made to local authorities, or the number of assets accepted or rejected for listing, under the assets of community value scheme. Local authorities are responsible for keeping and managing a list of assets of community value.

Local Government: Funding

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the statement from the Local Government Association on 9 May that a further 10% cut in local government funding in 2015-16 would result in substantial cuts to street and road repairs, reduced street lighting, and closures of sports centres, libraries and museums.

Baroness Hanham: My honourable friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Brandon Lewis), issued the following comment in response to the press release by the Local Government Association. He observed:
	"Every bit of the public sector needs to help pay off the deficit by the last Administration. The LGA's shrill and alarmist claims lack credibility, given councils are losing £2 billion a year from uncollected council tax, £2 billion from fraud and are sitting on £16 billion of reserves. The LGA's own research shows that since 2010, residents' satisfaction with their councils has actually gone up, despite the need to make savings. Rather than predicting the end of the world, the LGA would be better to help councils deliver the savings from improved procurement, joint working and better property management".
	I would add that my department's document 50 Ways to Save outlines a range of ways that local government can deliver further savings.

Military Covenant Reference Group

Lord Robertson of Port Ellen: To ask Her Majesty's Government who are the members of the Military Covenant Reference Group.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the distribution so far of the funds allocated to the Military Covenant Reference Group.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what are (1) the terms of reference, and (2) the future strategy, of the Military Covenant Reference Group.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will publish the possible conflicts of interest recorded at each meeting of the Military Covenant Reference Group.

Lord Astor of Hever: The Armed Forces Covenant Reference Group (CRG) is chaired by the Cabinet Office, and its members represent the following government departments and organisations: Ministry of Defence, Department of Work and Pensions, Department of Health, Department for Transport, Department for Education, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Department of Communities and Local Government, the Local Government Association, Her Majesty's Treasury, Home Office, HM Revenue and Customs, Ministry Of Justice, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Office, the Confederation of Service Charities, the Royal British Legion, the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen's Families Association, the War Widows' Association, the Naval Families Federation, the Army Families Federation, the RAF Families Federation and a member of the independent academic community.
	A copy of the terms of reference for the CRG has been placed in the Library of the House.
	With regard to future strategy, the Armed Forces Covenant annual report, last published in December 2012, sets out delivery against commitments as well as identifying areas where more needs to be done. This annual report is developed in conjunction with the CRG and the comments of non-government CRG members are published within it, setting out their view of future areas of work.
	To date the CRG has agreed to fund projects to the value of £7,190,500. A breakdown showing the delivery organisation and the funds allocated is given below.
	
		
			 Title Amount £ Delivery Organisation 
			 uk4u Thanks 90,000 UK4u 
			 Operational Stress Reaction: National project to provide a support booklet for families 25,000 RN & RM Children's Fund 
			 Post-Afghan Normalisation Breaks for EOD Teams 65,000 Felix Fund 
			 RAF Widows Association Training Course for trustees and regional organisers. 5,000 RAF Widows Association 
			 Tickets for Troops bid for funding to support and improve operations. 160,000 Tickets For Troops 
			 Combat Stress Community Outreach Teams 2,000,000 Combat Stress 
			 Children and Young People short breaks scheme 207,500 SSAFA Forces Help 
			 Mutual Support Services 1,100,000 SSAFA Forces Help 
			 Mental Health First Aid - Training Trainers 547,000 SSAFA Forces Help 
			 24 Hour Mental Health Helpline 200,000 Combat Stress 
			 Health Wellbeing and Transition 350,000 SSAFA Forces Help 
			 Communications and supporting delivery of Covenant to Army Families 238,000 Army Families Federation 
			 Communications and supporting delivery of the Covenant to the Naval Service Community 343,000 Navy Families Federation 
			 Communications and supporting delivery of the Covenant to RAF families 235,000 RAF Families federation 
			 Fisher House UK at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham 1,000,000 Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity 
			 National Memorial Arboretum 625,000 Royal British Legion 
		
	
	The first tranche of LIBOR funding was agreed by all non-government members of the CRG but, in the interests of improved governance, it is envisaged that future LIBOR Funding panels will comprise a smaller group made up from the wider CRG membership, who will be required to declare their interest in bids which will be recorded as part of the governance process.

NHS: Patient Charges

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether NHS services and treatments administered at a direct cost to the patient, including corrective surgery and mandatory tests for sufferers of lung diseases who wish to fly abroad, are consistent with the principle that the National Health Service should remain free at the point of use.

Earl Howe: It is a key principle that NHS services should be free at the point of use, based on clinical need and not an individual's ability to pay. This has underpinned the National Health Service since its establishment in 1948 and is enshrined in the NHS Constitution and reaffirmed in the Health and Social Care Act 2012.
	In line with the NHS Constitution, cosmetic or corrective surgical procedures will only be carried out by the NHS on the basis of clinical need.
	General practitioners also provide a variety of other services, such as fitness to travel documents, which successive Governments have regarded as private matters between the patient and the doctor providing the service. The doctor is free to make a charge for these non-NHS services if he or she wishes.

Northern Ireland: Corporal Derek Wood and Corporal David Howes

Lord Ashcroft: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Astor of Hever on 23 April (WA 410-11), whether Corporal Derek Wood and Corporal David Howes were off duty on 16 March 1988.

Lord Astor of Hever: Corporals Wood and Howes were both on duty during the week commencing 14 March 1988 until their deaths on Saturday 19 March 1988.

Pakistan

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will hold discussions with the incoming Government of Pakistan regarding that country's stance on religious freedom.

Baroness Warsi: It is vital that Pakistan guarantees the rights of all its citizens, regardless of their faith, gender or ethnicity. On 22 January, I hosted a global ministerial conference on Freedom of Religion and Belief in London and I was able to discuss these issues in detail with the human rights adviser to the then Pakistani Prime Minister.
	Once a new Government have been established in Pakistan, we will raise human rights issues, including blasphemy laws, with them.

Racial Economic Equality

Lord Ouseley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hanham on 22 October (WA40), when they intend to publish the findings of their review into the barriers preventing black and minority ethnic entrepreneurs from accessing business finance.

Baroness Hanham: We aim to publish the report shortly.

Schools: Community Cohesion

Baroness Whitaker: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they monitor school governors' responsibility for promoting community cohesion and combating racist bullying; and what have been the results of that monitoring.

Lord Nash: The Education and Inspections Act 2006 requires all publicly funded schools to promote community cohesion. It is for the governing body to determine how best to fulfil this duty in the light of their local circumstances. Ofsted can identify any inappropriate practices that may undermine community cohesion, and it holds schools to account for the manner in which they handle behaviour and bullying.

Schools: Free Schools

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: To ask Her Majesty's Government what further consultation they plan to undertake with local parents and residents before approval is given for a new Free School on the Brighton, Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College playing fields.

Lord Nash: The proposer group behind the King's Church of England Free School has already carried out an extensive consultation on its proposal for the free school. It is currently consulting on its admissions policy and whether to enter into a funding agreement with the Secretary of State. This closes on 31 May 2013.
	No decision regarding the site has yet been taken by Ministers. The plans under discussion mean just 3.6 acres will be used for a much-needed new school-out of a total site of 22 acres. The amount of open space which will still be available to the local community is equal to around 17 full-size football pitches.
	Brighton and Hove is seeing heavy pressure on school places. Any decision to use some of this site will be subject to consultation with the community.

Schools: Free Schools

Lord Bassam of Brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they informed Brighton and Hove City Council of their intention to acquire the playing fields used by Brighton, Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College as a site for the King's Free School.

Lord Nash: Brighton and Hove City Council was informed at a meeting on 13 March 2013 that the preferred site for the King's Church of England Free School is currently less than 4 acres of the 22 of total playing field area on the Old Shoreham Road in Hove.
	No decision has yet been taken by Ministers. The amount of open space that will still be available to the local community is equal to around 17 full-size football pitches.
	Brighton and Hove is seeing heavy pressure on school places. Any decision to use some of this site will be subject to consultation with the community.

Schools: Free Schools

Lord Bassam of Brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps the Department for Education took to ensure that Brighton and Hove City Council were informed of steps to acquire the playing fields used by Brighton, Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College for the building of a new free school.

Lord Nash: The Education Funding Agency (EFA), an Executive Agency of the Department for Education, met Brighton and Hove City Council on 13 March 2013 to inform officers of the option of using part of the playing fields on Old Shoreham Road as the preferred site for the King's Church of England Free School. Officials have been in regular contact since, both to confirm how the EFA will proceed in relation to this site and to agree use of the former Sixth Form Centre in Portslade Old Town as the temporary home for the school.
	No decision regarding Old Shoreham Road has yet been taken by Ministers. The plans under discussion mean just 3.6 acres will be used for a much-needed new school-out of a total site of 22 acres. The amount of open space which will still be available to the local community is equal to around 17 full-size football pitches.
	Brighton and Hove is seeing heavy pressure on school places. Any decision to use some of this site will be subject to consultation with the community.

Schools: Free Schools

Lord Bassam of Brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what response they received from Brighton and Hove City Council to their decision to acquire the playing fields used by Brighton, Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College as a site for a free school.

Lord Nash: We have not yet received a formal response from Brighton and Hove City Council. We know however that the council accepts that our searches for alternative sites to date have been exhaustive and unsuccessful, and that it recognises the need to provide additional school places in the area.

Schools: Free Schools

Lord Bassam of Brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to consult on the plan to acquire part of the playing fields used by Brighton, Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College for a Free School; and what plans they have for consultation on the proposal for a free school.

Lord Nash: The proposer group behind the King's Church of England Free School has already carried out an extensive consultation on its proposal for the free school. It is currently consulting on its admissions policy and whether to enter into a funding agreement with the Secretary of State. This closes on 31 May 2013.
	No decision regarding the site has yet been taken by Ministers. The plans under discussion mean just 3.6 acres will be used for a much-needed new school-out of a total site of 22 acres. The amount of open space which will still be available to the local community is equal to around 17 full-size football pitches.
	Brighton and Hove is seeing heavy pressure on school places. Any decision to use some of this site will be subject to consultation with the community.

Schools: Geography

Lord Dykes: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the inclusion of climate change studies in geography lessons in schools.

Lord Nash: In recent months, the department has worked closely with key geography stakeholders, including subject associations, academics and teachers, to define the essential geographic knowledge that should be taught to pupils from ages 5 to 14.
	In order to engage fully with the complex issue of climate change, we believe that pupils should develop an evidence-based understanding of the processes relating to weather and climate in key stages 2 and 3. Knowledge of these matters will give pupils the essential building blocks for understanding spatial and temporal variations in climate at key stage 3 and for those who choose to study geography GCSE at key stage 4.
	It is also important that pupils develop an understanding of climate change in science. Therefore we are proposing that primary school pupils are taught the concepts that underpin meteorology and climate change science. These topics will provide a firm foundation for the study of climate change science in key stages 3 and 4, where pupils will be taught, for example, about the composition of the atmosphere, the production of carbon dioxide by human activity and the impact that this has on the climate, greenhouse gases and renewable energy resources.
	Consultation on the draft national curriculum closed on 16 April and, having considered the responses, we plan to finalise the curriculum and make it available to schools this autumn in readiness for first teaching from September 2014.

Smoking

Baroness Masham of Ilton: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they will monitor progress to reduce the prevalence of adult smoking in England to ensure that 210,000 smokers quit each year until 2015, as set out in Healthy Lives, Healthy People: a Tobacco Control Plan for England.

Earl Howe: The Government have set three national ambitions for tobacco control. The ambitions, together with how the ambitions will be measured, are set out at paragraph 1.15 of Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A Tobacco Control Plan for England. This document has already been placed in the Library.
	The measure for the national ambition to reduce adult (aged 18 or over) smoking prevalence in England to 18.5% or less by the end of 2015 is smoking prevalence among adults from the Office for National Statistics' Integrated Household Survey.

Smoking

Baroness Masham of Ilton: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Quality Standard on Smoking Cessation will be published.

Earl Howe: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently developing a quality standard on "smoking cessation: supporting people to stop smoking". We understand that NICE currently expects to publish the final quality standard in August 2013.

Ukraine

Lord Ashcroft: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the statement in April 2013 by the International Young Democrat Union on recent political developments in Ukraine.

Baroness Warsi: The statement by the International Young Democrat Union identifies a number of concerns that the UK shares.
	The UK wants to see an effective Ukrainian chairmanship-in-office of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and has encouraged and supported Ukraine to use this opportunity to show that it respects OSCE values.
	This includes respecting the rule of law and independence of the judiciary. We have repeatedly made clear representations to the Government of Ukraine about cases of selective justice. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) did so most recently on 13 May when he met the Ukrainian Foreign Minister. We support action, in line with European values and practices, to strengthen Ukraine's judicial and legislative institutions and enhance their capacity to inspire confidence and trust. In that context, the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr Lidington) welcomed the pardon and release of former Interior Minister Yuri Lutsenko, although we are concerned by a separate decision that limited his ability to participate fully in political life. We look forward to further progress in this important area.
	We have called on the Government of Ukraine to ensure that legislation is fully compliant with Ukraine's international commitments, including under the European Convention for Human Rights, and respects the protection afforded to human rights under Ukraine's constitution. We routinely express concern over the potential introduction of legislation or policies that run counter to principles of non-discrimination and freedom of expression.
	We have raised with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister our concern at recent developments that appear aimed at circumventing parliament, such as last month's extramural session where the ruling party approved legislation which the President has now signed into law.

Water Management: Sewage

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask Her Majesty's Government when in the last 12 months there have been accidental sewage spillages into the River Thames from the Little Marlow sewage treatment works.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the total volume of sewage pumped into the River Thames from the Little Marlow sewage treatment works between 19 April and 27 April.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether sewage pumped into the River Thames from the Little Marlow sewage treatment works between 19 April and 27 April included human excrement; and what action was taken for the removal of any such material from the river.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will prosecute Thames Water over its actions in pumping sewage into the River Thames between 19 April and 27 April.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what action the Environment Agency has taken to establish when Thames Water officials were first informed of the pumping of sewage into the River Thames between 19 April and 27 April.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government when Thames Water officials first informed the Environment Agency of the pumping of sewage into the River Thames from the Little Marlow sewage treatment works between 19 April and 27 April; and what requirement they place upon sewage treatment operations to inform local organisations, marina operators and media organisations regarding the pumping of sewage into the River Thames.

Lord De Mauley: During the period 19-27 April, parts of the treatment process at Little Marlow sewage treatment works failed and sewage was discharged directly into the River Thames. This had passed through the storm tanks so some of the solid excrement had settled out before it was discharged. The Environment Agency asked Thames Water to remove foam and other visible debris from the river.
	The Environment Agency met senior managers from Thames Water on 25 April to discuss the incidents at the sewage treatment works. Thames Water produced a process recovery action plan that includes using tankers to suck sewage foam and debris from the river, litter picking to clear up debris from trees and banks and removing debris caught on the outfall grills. All this work is ongoing as part of the recovery plan.
	The River Thames is not designated bathing water so there is no requirement on sewerage operators to inform anyone, other than the Environment Agency, of when they are discharging storm sewage outside of the environmental permit conditions that apply to discharges from the works.
	As part of its current investigation into the recent incident, the Environment Agency is seeking information on the recent volumes discharged, when Thames Water officials were first informed of the incident and the number of illegal storm sewage discharges from the sewage treatment works in the past 12 months. It is not appropriate to comment any further at this stage as this could compromise the investigation and any enforcement response.